Simple steps convert bedroom into reading nook

Converting a small bedroom into a cosy reading room? Include a comfy chair, bookcases and good lighting.

Photograph by: Brian J. Gavriloff
, Edmonton Journal

Dear Leanne:

I have a small bedroom - 2.74 metres by 3.05 metres (nine feet by 10 feet) - that I am converting into a reading room. I really want this space to be comfy and charming. It has a large south-facing window with lots of cheery sun. I already have a home office, so I want this room to be an escape for me. With the space being limited, I would love to hear your suggestions for decor.

A: Don't let small spaces deceive you - they have the potential to be brimming with ambience. Think back to a quaint restaurant, B&B or powder room you have seen.

These memories will provide clues to what you can do with your space. Maybe you loved sitting in the sun at that table by the window. Perhaps you love the crackling of a fire on a cold winter day, or maybe you loved the paint colour or wallpaper design in the space. Take these cues to develop your perfect getaway.

As in all great design, form follows function. If the room doesn't perform in an efficient and effective manner, it won't matter how "comfy and charming" it looks.

The basic furnishings you need are:

- A chaise longue or a comfy chair and ottoman.

- Cantilever shelving above or a bookcase that spans no more than three-quarters of the way up the wall. A wall of books from floor to ceiling can be so overwhelming that it can look chaotic rather than relaxing. Another option is to convert any closets into a bookshelf, which will save floor space.

- Add tactile decor items such as an area rug and a basket of blankets or throws.

- If space and building codes permit, consider adding an electric fireplace to the space.

- A floor lamp will be an effective ad-dition, as it takes less floor space than a lamp on a table.

- If you have room, consider an ot-toman rather than a side-table, and place a tray on it to support a cup of tea or a glass of wine.

- At the very least, add side panels to your windows for effect - however, functioning drapery will be both practical and visually effective.

Do not be afraid to use bold colours in this small space. Once you have selected your furniture and rug, use their colour palette to inspire the tones you imagine enveloping you while you curl up with a good read.

Dear Leanne:

We have just finished refinishing our kitchen cabinets and would like to give our drawers and cabinets more organization. What do you recommend to retro-fit these units? The front panels are solid wood, but the drawers are MDF. We would appreciate any suggestion you can offer.

A: An organized kitchen will be highly appreciated as a complement to your new look. Kitchen organization has come a long way since the standard cutlery tray insert. With so many options, you will be able to have a place for everything, and once you use them everyday you'll wonder how you ever did without them.

Many custom kitchen designs include specialty centres such as waste and compost collection, knife storage, efficient storage of plates, dishes, pots and lids, spice and condiment holders - to name just a few. For every item that is needed, there is a gadget that will help to keep you organized.

Ikea has a great assortment of storage items that you may want to look at. Their Rationell series has some interesting items, such as an allwooden knife drawer that keeps all of your carving and chopping utensils sharp and safely stored. Measuring 50.1 centimetres by 15.3 cm by 5.0 cm, the unit has a slot for each knife, so you quickly identify the tool you need at a glance. The pullout waste-sorting system can easily be added to an existing cupboard. It measures 25 cm wide by 42 cm deep by 25 cm high and efficiently holds a variety of sorting bins that are also available at Ikea.

Additional items in the Rationell series include revolving corner carousels, spice jar drawer inserts and plastic-bag dispensers. Other creative ideas from this series are the stacking plate holder and the pot-lid organizer. If your kitchen has a shortage of upper cabinetry but plenty of deep lower drawer space, consider moving your plates down to these lower storage drawers with specialized plate holders. Available in two sizes, these holders allow you to stack the plates horizontally as you would in your upper cupboard and the holders secure the plates safely when the drawer is opened or closed. The pot-lid holder can store up to six lids, allowing you to stack the open pots inside each other.

This is only one series that can be effective in organizing your kitchen. Check out the products available at specialty kitchen design studios such as Heart Kitchens and Bath (http: //www.heartkitchens.com) and Superior Cabinets (http: //www. superiorcabinets.com) for even more customized systems.

Leanne Brownoff is an Edmonton interior design consultant who welcomes your questions at leannebrownoff@shaw.ca. Answers will be featured in her column as high volume sprevent individual email responses. Also follow Leanne at www.twitter.com/LeanneBrownoff

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Househunting Newsletter

Receive the latest in real estate news, decorating and renovating tips every two weeks in the househunting.ca newsletter.